Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of colored glass includes the steps of diverting a stream of clear molten glass from at least one glass melting furnace through one or more transport channels to a color treatment chamber. Recycled cullet and color additive are added to a charging end of the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber is heated to melt the cullet and further heat the remaining feedstock to form a molten bath of colored glass which is thermally and chemically homogenized in the treatment chamber. Refractory rotary paddle wheels positioned in the transport channels regulate the flow rate and level of the molten glass and provide for selective shut off of individual glass streams.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes an end grip member having a configuration and shape to be gripped by an operator, such as a dentist, during use. The end grip member has a first end to be connected to a supply and a second end having therein a recess. At least one coolant line to receive coolant when the end grip member is connected to the supply extends through the end grip member. A plurality of tool holders support respective different tools and are interchangeable selectively connectable to and detachable from the second end of the end grip member. Each tool holder has a first end to carry a respective tool and a second end having an extension extended into the recess in the second end of the end grip member when such tool holder is connected thereto. The extension is configured to block coolant passage or to allow coolant passage through a selected portion of the coolant line.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes an end grip member gripped by an operator during use. The end grip member has a first end to be connected to an air supply and a second end on which is selectively detachably mounted a tool holder supporting a tool that is driven either by a mechanical structure or by an air turbine, depending upon the particular tool holder mounted on the end grip member. Within the end grip member is an air motor, and a first air line extends from the first end to the air grip motor. When the tool holder includes the mechanical structure, then the first air line supplies air to the air motor, thereby to transmit power to the mechanical structure. A second air line extends through the end grip member between the first and second ends thereof. When the particular tool holder mounted on the end grip member includes an air turbine, the second air line supplies air thereto.

Abstract: A bath in which articles are processed by immersion in hot liquid chemicals has a chemical receptacle seated in a casing. Wetting of internal components in the casing, such as heating elements and thermal insulation, is prevented by a seal between the receptacle and the rim of the casing. The otherwise exposed seal is isolated from the external environment of the bath by a barrier of flowing water. The water flow shields the sealing material from corrosive chemical drips and fumes and also has a cooling effect which decreases thermal expansion of components in the region of the seal and thereby reduces structural stresses.

Abstract: A label printer and applicator system which determines the height and position of moving objects on a conveyor while printing labels and positioning the labels for application on the moving objects. The printer/applicator includes a controllable label buffer, applicator actuator and label ejector to receive and apply the printed label, or eject the label when it has been determined that the application to the object cannot be made. Further embodiments include multiple applicators deployed along the conveyor to permit higher conveyor velocities and avoidance of unlabeled objects due to height/proximity relationships with adjacent packages.

Abstract: An improved cylindrical dental implant for anchoring a dental prosthesis in a hole formed in a jawbone comprising an elongated cylindrical member having a first end adapted to be inserted into the hole and a second end adapted to receive the dental prosthesis. At least one wedge member radially extends from the cylindrical member to effect immediate fixation of the cylindrical member in the hole. The wedge member has a base portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and a tapered portion having a first planar face and a second planar face. The first planar face and the second planar face intersect to form a thin longitudinally extending edge.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a handle portion having at a first end thereof a holder for a driven tool and which at a second end thereof is rotatably connected to a connecting portion which provides connection to a supply hose for supply media. Light supplied to the region of the tool is provided from an incandescent lamp arranged in a recess in the connecting portion. The recess may accommodate the incandescent lamp or a light guide and is arranged at an end of the connecting portion to be directed toward the hose and opens at such end.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a drive shaft which is driven by a drive motor and which has two coaxial ring gears which can selectively be coupled to shafts passing through different tool carriers. Different angular speeds of the coaxial ring gears is achieved by the inner ring gear being directly connected to the drive shaft, whereas the outer ring gear is driven by the drive shaft by way of a planetary transmission.

Abstract: A dimensional detector useful for determining the height of a package as it moves along a conveyor, comprising a light source and corresponding light sensors oppositely disposed across the conveyor, wherein the light is interrupted by the package before being received by the light sensors. Rapid determination of the package height is provided by grouping the light sensors into groups of contiguously disposed light sensors and a group of light sensors interspersed between the contiguously disposed light sensor groups. Included within the group having interspersed light sensors is also a group of contiguously disposed light sensors which are located at the lowest end of the dimension to be measured. According to the invention, the group of light detectors comprising the interspersed light detectors and the lowest dimensional disposed contiguous detectors is first read to determine if the package height is within the lowest dimensional disposed contiguous detector.

Abstract: A method of (and apparatus for) applying and adhering an adhesive-backed label to the surface of a material (e.g., the butt end of a board) in the presence of a contaminant (e.g., sap) that neutralizes the adhesive forces of the adhesive. The method includes the serial steps of applying a surface preparation layer or substance (e.g., a hot-melt adhesive) to the material, the layer (or substance) being compatible with the material to be labeled and the adhesive of the label and being further capable of displacing the contaminant in such a way as to restore the adhesive force between the label adhesive and the material to be labeled; and, immediately thereafter, applying the adhesive surface of an adhesive backed label to the surface thus prepared, that is, onto the surface preparation layer.

Abstract: An applicator system and method for automatically applying and securing an adhesive backed (or gummed) label onto a corner surface of a typically three-dimensional, right-angle polygonal object such that the body of the label is applied and adhered to one surface (usually one major surface) of the object and one flap (or usually two) continuous with the body of the label is applied and adhered to a side of the object adjacent the one surface. The applicator system includes an applicator head to receive the adhesive backed label, mechanically secured to an applicator arm which serves to move the applicator head relative to the object.

Abstract: A chemical bath for immersing articles such as integrated circuit wafers in a hot flow of etchant or other liquid includes a liquid receptacle with a first compartment for receiving the articles and a second compartment which acts as sump and further includes a trough which channels overflow from the first compartment into the sump. A pump recirculates liquid from the sump back to the first compartment. The receptacle is supported by a casing in which the lower region of the receptacle is situated. The casing in which the lower region of the receptacle is situated. The casing is sealed by a flange on the receptacle which overlays a rim member on the casing and by sealing material situated between the rim member and the underside of the flange. The flange is located below the trough in vertically spaced apart relationship with the trough. This inhibits direct heat transfer from the trough to the seal and thereby enhances seal durability.

Abstract: A chemical bath in which batches of integrated circuit wafers or other articles are immersed in hot liquid chemical during manufacture has a processing vessel, an adjacent sump vessel and a trough which carries overflow from the processing vessel to the sump vessel. A pump continuously recirculates liquid from the sump vessel to the processing vessel through a filter. A continuous inflow of liquid is received from a liquid chemical source and an intermittent outflow occurs through an outlet at an upper region of the sump vessel. The liquid chemical source may, for example, supply make-up fluid or be a reprocessor that repurifies the outflow from the sump vessel. The storage capacity of the sump vessel below the outlet is greater than that needed to contain the volume of liquid that is displaced in the processing vessel by the batch of wafers.

Abstract: A system (and method) for providing a label for deposit on a product from a composite that includes the label, as one of a plurality of labels, on a backing. A transporter moves the composite translationally and accurately in a direction, e.g., the X-direction herein. The system ascertains the exact X-direction location of a particular label on the composite to permit the transporting to be achieved accurately translationally. A two-dimensional cutter serves to cut the label from the composite while leaving the backing intact, the cutter being operable to effect cutting of the label in two dimensions, e.g., across or orthogonal to the direction of movement of the backing and parallel to the direction of movement of the backing. There is provided a mechanism to control cutting from the composite to permit variation in the length of the label in the parallel direction, thereby controlling the length of the label in the parallel direction, despite fixed dimensions of the cutter roller.

Abstract: A system to apply a bar-code label or the like upon a product or to apply a protective laminate strip or the like upon a bar-code label or the like which is already in place upon a product. The label or the protective laminate strip first is removed from a moving carrier and applied to an applicator head which, in turn, applies the label on the product or the protective laminate strip very precisely onto the label. The relative positions of the applicator head and the label, for example, are predetermined. It remains to establish the moving forward edge of the bar-code label or the protective laminate strip to be stripped from the moving carrier so that the either can be accurately placed on the applicator head, a particularly vexing problem in view of the fact that transmissivity, usually, or reflectivity of all the films involved, typically, have closely related optical characteristics.

Abstract: Cutter apparatus to cut accurately a composite label without cutting the backing of the composite and a system that includes the cutter apparatus. The cutter apparatus includes a transporter mechanism positioned to receive the composite, which typically includes the backing, many labels on the backing and laminate covering the surfaces of the labels, the transporter mechanism being precisely operable to move the composite translationally in a direction (i.e., the X-direction herein). A detector ascertains the precise location of individual labels on the composite and is interconnected to provide control signals to the transporter mechanism to enable that mechanism to move the composite precisely along the X-direction.

Abstract: The drain of this invention includes a tube provided with orifices for drawing in residual secretions gathered at the site of an operation. Within the tube is bounded a volume of variable capacity. Such volume is divided into one or several inflatable pockets bounded between the internal wall of the tube and a sleeve judiciously fastened to said wall. Such sleeve is of elastic material. A suction source is connected to the channel left free within the tube by the sleeve. Furthermore, a fluid source may be connected to the volume bounded by the sleeve to enable changing the capacity thereof. Such changes serve to unclog the intake orifices.The invention is applicable to surgical drains used in the post-operational phase to remove all secretions appearing at the site of the operation.

Abstract: A non-invasive liquid level sensor assembly includes a pair of conductive band electrodes oriented in parallel, narrowly spaced relationship and disposed so that the gap between the electrodes corresponds to the liquid surface level to be detected. The electrodes are secured to the outer surface of a liquid container, and connected to a capacitive detector device which measures the change in electrical capacity between the conductors as the liquid rises or falls past the level of the gap between the electrodes. A shield electrode is also provided, disposed outwardly of and concavely about the sensing electrodes to eliminate sensitivity to masses outside of the container. In one embodiment the electrodes are secured with a sealed, arcuate housing which is adapted to be permanently or temporarily secured to the exterior of a liquid container by adhesive, removable straps, or the like.

Abstract: An optical scanning system for projecting an image onto a moving surface comprises four reflecting surfaces, a first or scan reflecting surface to deflect an incident light ray into a first direction, second and third reflecting surfaces mutually at right angles which together reflect the ray from the first reflecting surface in a direction opposite to the first direction and displaced laterally therefrom, and a fourth or exit reflecting surface to receive the ray reflected from the third reflecting surface and to deflect it parallel to the incident ray onto the moving surface. The scan and exit reflecting surfaces are maintained at right angles to each other as they are translated in opposite directions during a full scan of the image.

Abstract: The camera head of a planetary camera system is movably mounted on a frame of the system. Film members (e.g. aperture cards) are exposed in the camera head. A stationary film-processing station is mounted on the frame in a position remote from the camera head and is linked to the camera head by a light-tight extensible film member conveying means. Telescopic tubes containing endless conveyor belts of variable effective length are preferred for the conveying means.